Abstract
BackgroundTo assess the impact of COVID-19 on cancer survivors, we fielded a survey promoted via email and social media in winter 2020. Examination of the data showed suspicious patterns that warranted serious review.ObjectiveThe aim of this paper is to review the methods used to identify and prevent fraudulent survey responses.MethodsAs precautions, we included a Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart (CAPTCHA), a hidden question, and instructions for respondents to type a specific word. To identify likely fraudulent data, we defined a priori indicators that warranted elimination or suspicion. If a survey contained two or more suspicious indicators, the survey was eliminated. We examined differences between the retained and eliminated data sets.ResultsOf the total responses (N=1977), nearly three-fourths (n=1408) were dropped and one-fourth (n=569) were retained after data quality checking. Comparisons of the two data sets showed statistically significant differences across almost all demographic characteristics.ConclusionsNumerous precautions beyond the inclusion of a CAPTCHA are needed when fielding web-based surveys, particularly if a financial incentive is offered.
Highlights
IntroductionTo assess the impact of the pandemic on cancer survivors in the United States, the study team fielded a survey in the winter of 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant delays to health care administration
To assess the impact of the pandemic on cancer survivors in the United States, the study team fielded a survey in the winter of 2020
Summary
To assess the impact of the pandemic on cancer survivors in the United States, the study team fielded a survey in the winter of 2020. The survey was promoted via email and, briefly, via social media. Social media can be an efficient way to disseminate web-based surveys [1,2,3,4,5]. Ensuring data integrity of studies when using social media remains a challenge. This study describes the data integrity methods used to identify fraudulent and suspicious data in a web-based survey that was briefly open to the public via social media. To assess the impact of COVID-19 on cancer survivors, we fielded a survey promoted via email and social media in winter 2020. Examination of the data showed suspicious patterns that warranted serious review
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